The once-fairy-tale romance between reality TV stars Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson, which captivated fans for five years, ended last December. Now, friends of the former Love Island contestant have broken their silence, branding Thompson's recent behaviour as "pathetic" and "attention-seeking".
From DMs to Splits: The Rollercoaster Relationship
Zara McDermott, 28, and Sam Thompson, 32, first connected in 2019 after she slid into his direct messages. Their relationship quickly became public, with Zara even joining the cast of Sam's show, Made in Chelsea. However, their path was not smooth. The couple temporarily split after Zara confessed to being unfaithful during her time on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019.
Their emotional reconciliation, including a heartfelt plea from Zara on a park bench, was broadcast to the nation. They officially rekindled their romance by December 2020, giving their relationship a second chance.
Moving On: New Romances and Public Spats
Despite efforts to make it work, the pair confirmed their separation in December last year. Both have since moved on with high-profile new partners. Zara began dating One Direction star Louis Tomlinson just weeks after the split, and recently shared a rare glimpse of their romance during a cosy birthday weekend away with his sister.
Meanwhile, Sam went public with his new girlfriend, London DJ Talitha Balinska, 25, at the start of this December. The pair were reportedly set up by Sam's friend and business partner, Reza Amiri-Garroussi.
Friends Fire Back Over 'Snide' Podcast Remarks
Tensions surfaced when Sam appeared to take a swipe at Zara during an episode of his podcast, Staying Relevant, with dating expert Paul C Brunson. Discussing life after the breakup, Sam said, "I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people... I can't do that," a comment many interpreted as a dig at Zara's quick rebound with Tomlinson.
While some fans expressed sympathy for Sam, an insider close to Zara's circle launched a fierce defence to The Daily Mail. They labelled Sam a "loose cannon" and criticised his "snide" remarks made soon after Zara's new relationship became public.
"It's really quite pathetic of him," the source stated. "It feels like it always has to be about him... Why would he do this? Zara put a lot into her relationship with Sam: she did everything she could to make it work for five years, but in the end she just couldn't."
The insider concluded that such "attention-seeking" behaviour would "never be forgiven" by those in Zara's camp, drawing a firm line under the dramatic end of one of the UK's most talked-about showbiz relationships.
